Writing Animation

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  • Writing Animation

    I've written a feature length animation spec.

    I keep getting told by a producer to take out ALL actions and angles from the script, because it is a 'no-no' in screenwriting. I know this rule, or at least keep them minimal.

    But how will the storyboard artists know what to draw if there aren't angles in it? Does an animation director still make those calls as well?


    Thanks

  • #2
    Re: Writing ANimation

    Writers *write* - directors *direct*.

    I would read some animation scripts online. There's a few out there for free.

    EJ

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    • #3
      Re: Writing Animation

      Storyboard artists draw EVERYTHING in the movie. If you don't like that and want everything in the film to be done EXACTLY as you want it, then save the money and make it yourself in live-action, because in animation, that part of production is entirely out of your hands.

      Besides, you shouldn't be putting in angles ANYWAY. That's up to whoever directs your film.

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      • #4
        Re: Writing Animation

        An animation spec is kind of a moot point anyway is it not?

        http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp...and.Paint.html

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        • #5
          Re: Writing Animation

          I can't imagine why they're telling you to take out action. Maybe they're asking you to be less descriptive with action lines. And only deal with what "has" to happen.

          It is a good idea to write animation "loose". They tend to like to build it themselves.

          Post some pages in the script pages forum if you like.

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          • #6
            Re: Writing Animation

            It kind of seems like all the Animation Studios (Pixar, Blue Sky, Dreamworks) have kind of fostered this idea that animated features are developed in house because it’s just so complicated and collaborative and labor intensive and secretive that you can’t possibly write one yourself.

            The truth is, animated features are worth billions of dollars in ancillary revenue, so they’re developed as work-for-hires, like movies used to be under the old studio system. This way, there’s no hope of any writers ever getting a copyright, or getting their hands on any of the cash. It’s a great system. For the studios.

            Who cares? Why would you want to ‘write’ an animated spec? Write a great story. Let someone else figure out if it’s a cartoon or not.

            Better yet, write a kids book. That way you can sell the publishing and film rights separately and get paid twice.

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            • #7
              Re: Writing Animation

              It's just highly specialised.

              Writing for animation involves anti-gavitational non-species specific imagination. Deep understanding of scene construction, plus the added knowledge of children's storytelling requirements, as well as a solid writing background.

              Phew. Ain't many of them around.

              A lot of people seem to just pick up a pen and say, hey, I'll write a feature animation!

              And the reason they're often in-house is because the whole animation team politcs is sometimes too complex to integrate a "writer's" vision.

              Like, they've got their own ideas.

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              • #8
                Re: Writing Animation

                There is already a deal for this script.

                I was just curious on some things.

                Thanks

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                • #9
                  Re: Writing Animation

                  Originally posted by Bense18 View Post
                  There is already a deal for this script.
                  Cool. Congrats!

                  Then I would just do what the producer says. Lately in animated television, most animation directors prefer stuff written in master scene as opposed to shot-by-shot.

                  Hope this helps!

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                  • #10
                    Re: Writing Animation

                    Originally posted by P.G. Bauhaus View Post
                    An animation spec is kind of a moot point anyway is it not?

                    http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp...and.Paint.html
                    I don't know enough about that to be certain, and it seems to be commonly held that spec animation scripts have little chance, but on the other hand, I know of two that are currently in production so it definitely happens.
                    "Friends make the worst enemies." Frank Underwood

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                    • #11
                      Re: Writing Animation

                      Originally posted by invaderujin View Post
                      Cool. Congrats!

                      Then I would just do what the producer says. Lately in animated television, most animation directors prefer stuff written in master scene as opposed to shot-by-shot.

                      Hope this helps!
                      Thanks!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Writing Animation

                        Originally posted by DavidK View Post
                        on the other hand, I know of two that are currently in production so it definitely happens.
                        Really, what are they? That column I linked to is pretty old and a lot has changed in the field of animation over the last couple of years so I guess it's not surprising if the conventional wisdom no longer holds.

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                        • #13
                          Re: Writing Animation

                          Originally posted by P.G. Bauhaus View Post
                          Really, what are they? That column I linked to is pretty old and a lot has changed in the field of animation over the last couple of years so I guess it's not surprising if the conventional wisdom no longer holds.
                          I doubt the conventional wisdom has changed much - I'm sure it's a difficult genre to break in with. The two I know of are a children's dance story being EPd by Robert Duvall, the other is under way with a well known new zealand animation company.

                          The animation industry seems to work somewhat differently as well. I also know someone who had a concept based mainly on a collection of characters he'd drawn, and the universe they lived in. He tried to sell it as a feature film but it is actually going into production in the form of 26 half hours for TV.
                          "Friends make the worst enemies." Frank Underwood

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